The whole-armour of GodThe vvhole-armor of God

§. 3. Of the ground of Patience.

Point 3 The Apostle himself in the last words of this verse showeth how this Preparation, ¹this fence and furniture of the soul, namely patience may be gotten, even by the Gospel of Peace: for it is such a preparation as the Gospel of peace teacheth and worketh, whence it followeth,⟨p. 165⟩ that the Gospel of Peace, is the only true ground of this piece of Armour.

Point 3 THe Apostle himselfe in the last words of this verse sheweth how this Preparation, ¹this fence and furniture of the soule, namely patience may be gotten, euen by the Gospell of Peace: for it is such a preparation as the Gospell of peace teacheth and worketh, whence it followeth,⟨p. 165⟩ that the Gospel of Peace, is the onely true ground of this peece of Armour.

1. 1how patience is gotten.

For the better clearing of this point, I will distinctly show,

For the better clearing of this point, I will distinctly shew,

1 What the Gospel is.

2 What Peace is here meant.

3 Why Peace is thus attributed to the Gospel.

4 How the Gospel of Peace effecteth this preparation.

§. 4. Of the Gospel.

Gospel,¹ according to the proper notation of the^a original word, signifieth a good message, or glad tidings: so it is sometimes translated, as Rom. 10. 15. How beautiful are the feet of them which ^cbring glad tidings? &c. The same notation may our English word Gospel admit: for spell in ancient time signified speech: Gospel then is a good speech. ^*The most elegant and learned languages retain the Greek word.

GOspel,¹ according to the proper notation of the^a originall word, signifieth a good message, or glad tidings: so it is sometimes translated, as Rom. 10. 15. How beautifull are the feet of them which ^cbring glad tidings? &c. The same notation may our English word Gospel admit: for spell in ancient time signified speech: Gospel then is a good speech. ^*The most elegant and learned languages retaine the Greeke word.

1. 11 What the Gospel is.
2. a[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
3. c[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
4. *Lat Fren. •tal. Span. &c

The good and glad tidings which this word implieth, is, that Christ Jesus the Son of God, is given unto the sons of men. An^d Angel from heaven thus expounded this word; for having said,^e I bring you gla• tidings, he addeth, that unto you is borne a Saviour which is Christ the Lord. Therefore the Histories which purposely write of Christ Jesus, declaring his Deity and humanity, his conception and birth, his life and death, words and deeds, humiliation and exaltation, &c. are by an excellency and propriety termed Gospels, or to speak as the Scots do, Evangiles, and the pen-men of them Evangelists. If it be duly considered into what a woe-full estate man by sin had implunged himself, how no creature in Heaven or earth was able to succour him, what full redemption⟨p. 166⟩ Christ hath wrought and unto how excellent an estate he hath redeemed us,³ it will appear, that never the like glad tidings was or could be brought to man-kind then this, that Christ a Saviour was given unto them; so that this message may well be called a Gospel or Evangel. In it is the very fullness of Gods favour manifested.

The good and glad tidings which this word implieth, is, that Christ Iesus the Sonne of God, is giuen vnto the sonnes of men. An^d Angel from heauen thus expounded this word; for hauing said,^e I bring you gla• tidings, he addeth, that vnto you is borne a Sauiour which is Christ the Lord. Therefore the Histories which purposely write of Christ Iesus, declaring his Diety and humanity, his conception and birth, his life and death, words and deedes, humiliation and exaltation, &c. are by an excellency and propriety termed Gospels, or to speake as the Scots doe, Euangiles, and the penne-men of them Euangelists. If it bee duely considered into what a woe-full estate man by sin had implunged himselfe, how no creature in Heauen or earth was able to succour him, what full redemption⟨p. 166⟩ Christ hath wrought and vnto how excellent an estate he hath redeemed vs,³ it will appeare, that neuer the like glad tidings was or could be brought to man-kind then this, that Christ a Sauiour was giuen vnto them; so that this message may well be called a Gospel or Euangile. In it is the very fulnesse of Gods fauour manifested.

1. dLuk. 2. 10, 11.
2. e[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
3. 3Evangelium est mare in qu• divinae gratiae plenitudo est. Amb. Hexam. lib. 5. cap. 7.Euangelium est mare in qu• diuinae gratiae plenitudo est. Amb. Hexam. lib. 5. cap. 7.

§. 5. Of that Peace which the Gospel causeth.

The Peace here spoken of,¹ is our reconciliation with God. In the beginning God made man after his own Image, by virtue whereof, there was a sweet harmony and concord betwixt God and man; God having revealed unto man what was his good will, pleasing and acceptable unto him; man being both able, and also willing to do that which was acceptable to God. But long this Peace did not last: it was soon broken, and that wholly, and only through mans default. For man wittingly sinned against his Creator, and thereby justly provoked his wrath: thus came enmity betwixt God and man. Such a breach was made by mans rebellion, that all creatures in Heaven and earth were not able to make it up. Christ therefore, the eternal, true, natural, proper, only begotten Son of God, took upon him to be a Mediator betwixt God and man. He satisfied his Fathers Justice, pacified his wrath, procured his favour towards man, whereby God was moved to offer reconciliation unto man;² withal he gave unto man his sanctifying Spirit, to breed faith in him, that thereby man might receive and embrace this reconciliation. In this respect God is called the God of Peace (Rom. 16. 20.) and Christ our Peace, (chap. 2. 14.) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9. 6.) And God is said in Christ to reconcile the world unto himself, ⟨p. 167⟩(2 Cor. 5. 19.) Thus through the mediation of Christ, God offering, and man accepting reconciliation, a most perfect and inviolable peace is made betwixt them, and this is the peace here meant. As fruits of this peace there flow from it remission of sins, quietness and comfort of conscience, joy of heart, willingness and ability to do that which is pleasing unto God, freedom from the dominion of sin, from the power of the Devil, from the evil of all crosses, from the sting of death, and of the grave, and from the fear and fire of Hell.

THe Peace heere spoken of,¹ is our reconciliation with God. In the beginning God made man after his owne Image, by vertue whereof, there was a sweet harmony and concord betwixt God and man; God hauing reuealed vnto man what was his good will, pleasing and acceptable vnto him; man being both able, and also willing to doe that which was acceptable to God. But long this Peace did not last: it was soone broken, and that wholly, and onely through mans default. For man wittingly sinned against his Creator, and thereby iustly prouoked his wrath: thus came enmity betwixt God and man. Such a breach was made by mans rebellion, that all creatures in Heauen and earth were not able to make it vp. Christ therefore, the eternall, true, naturall, proper, onely begotten Sonne of God, tooke vpon him to be a Mediator betwixt God and man. Hee satisfied his Fathers Iustice, pacified his wrath, procured his fauour towards man, whereby God was moued to offer reconciliation vnto man;² withall he gaue vnto man his sanctifiing Spirit, to breed faith in him, that thereby man might receiue and embrace this reconciliation. In this respect God is called the God of Peace (Rom. 16. 20.) and Christ our Peace, (chap. 2. 14.) Prince of Peace (Isa. 9. 6.) And God is said in Christ to reconcile the world vnto himselfe, ⟨p. 167⟩(2 Cor. 5. 19.) Thus through the mediation of Christ, God offering, and man accepting reconciliation, a most perfect and inuiolable peace is made betwixt them, and this is the peace here meant. As fruits of this peace there flow from it remission of sinnes, quietnesse and comfort of conscience, ioy of heart, willingnesse and ability to doe that which is pleasing vnto God, freedome from the dominion of sinne, from the power of the Diuell, from the euill of all crosses, from the sting of death, and of the graue, and from the feare and fire of Hell.

1. 12 What peace is here meant
2. 2Deus appellatur pacis quia per Christum ei reconciliati sumus, qui est pax nostra, Hieron. Hedib. quaest. 12.

§. 6. Why it is called the Gospel of Peace.